Tag Archives: Tradition

SNAPs and the Fighter Pilot Culture Live On

A fighter pilot discussing the state of the Air Force recently lamented the rise of SNAPs in the fighter pilot culture.

POS commanders are out there…who care more about Green Bag Bible Study than they do about having a normal roll call in the squadron every once in a while. Douchebags that stand in the corner and wince when I correct a punk who starts singing by interrupting and asking “how does every good fighter pilot song start?” [Ed: The answer to that question is not for polite company…]

And they take care of their own. The SNAPs who refuse to drink out of principle and scoff when others do, Read more

Civilians, Corporations Picking up Military Traditions

A military news release noted Brig Gen Mark Corson handing out “commander’s coins” for excellence in February.

The…soldiers received the coins for their dedication to mission success by Brig. Gen. Mark Corson.

[Cpl Steven] Teel explained what it meant to him to receive the coin. “To be able to serve in so many different positions and be successful in the position is an honor in itself,” he said.

The Washington Post notes both the tradition of such coins (or “RMOs” in fighter pilot parlance) and increasing indications they have become a “copycat fad” in the rest of society:

“Challenge coins,” as they are known, have Read more

Chaplain Team Reaches Troops through Holy Crap

Enter any military unit (but especially an aviation one) and you’re likely to find the bathroom stalls stuffed with reading materials.  In some cases you might find laminated copies of aircraft emergency procedures; in others, it might just be generic left over magazines ranging from Guns and Ammo to Newseek; in almost all cases you’ll find copies of the most recent safety publications.  (In years past, various levels of adult magazines could be found in most fighter units.  That practice has largely, though not entirely, faded away).

A US Army Chaplain’s team composed of Chaplain (Capt) Jason Hohnberger and his assistant Sgt David Cavazos recently took advantage of the traditional practice:

Holy Crap: Chaplain’s Thought of the Week, where Read more

Unique Chaplain Serves All in South Korea

An interesting article describes the busy life of a Chaplain serving the US Army in South Korea:

I spend most of my time during the week working around my battalion. I’m handling soldiers’ personal concerns, from marital problems to issues with their commanders. Soldiers in my unit have asked me to “bless” their newborn babies and perform non-religious…weddings, among other things.

Often I’m asked to deliver a “non-denominational” invocation prayer at change-of-command ceremonies and memorial observances, “spiritual fitness events” and other occasions.  Read more

USS Bataan Raises Church Pennant for Burial at Sea

The USS Bataan recently conducted a burial at sea for former US Navy Sailors, some veterans from World War II.

“Raise the church pennant and lower the colors to half mast,” was spoken in a solemn and firm tone over the ship’s general announcing system. The ensign was lowered and the burial detail prepared to send their shipmates to the deep…

“Being buried at sea is meaningful,” said Bataan Chaplain Cmdr. Steven Souders. “It has tradition. So as Sailors begin to see these traditions, it begins to build that legacy in them.”

The families…will receive a ceremonial folded flag, and the shell casings from the rounds fired during the 21-gun salute. A letter from the captain, a chart listing the latitude and longitude of where the cremains were committed, and still photos of the ceremony will also be provided.

The use of a “church pennant” may be unfamiliar to most.  Under US law (4 USC 1) the Naval church pennant is the only flag or pennant which may be flown Read more

IG Says Ensign Faced Retaliation over Complaint

The Inspector General has reportedly determined that US Navy Ensign Steve Crowston faced reprisal in the form of an “unfavorable fitness report” after lodging complaints against his leadership.

Crowston was an “administration/legal officer” and had recently become an officer after previously serving as a petty officer.  The aviators in his unit included him in the fighter pilot tradition of a Naming; Crowston lodged complaints as a result.

Crowston’s then-commander, Cmdr Liam Bruen, Read more

Grad takes USAFA to Task Over Constitution

And, no, this isn’t about Michael Weinstein.

Ralph Palmer, USAFA Class of 1967, has been campaigning for a few years to get the US Constitution put back into the pocket-sized cadet “Contrails,” which the Colorado Springs Gazette says is “better known as the ‘Cadet Bible.'”  The small tome is a collection of history, facts, and miscellaneous details that fourthclass (first year) cadets are often required to memorize.

It is not unusual to see pictures of cadets braced at attention with the small book gripped firmly a few inches in front of their face.  They’re supposed to be reading it and learning.

Apparently, the US Constitution — which had been routinely included in Contrails for decades — was removed, though supposedly it wasn’t done for malicious reasons:

“Sometimes it has to do with space, flat out,” said Air Force Academy spokesman Master Sgt. Chris Dewitt. “Everyone has things they want in ‘Contrails’ and it has the potential to grow to the size of ‘War and Peace’.”

Like the other USAFA grad often in the news, Palmer is a former lawyer, but Read more

Astronauts and Fighter Pilot Traditions: Traveling Playboys

After a scandal involving “inappropriate” photos in a commercial airline cockpit, this site covered the fighter pilot tradition of putting risqué photos in cross country mission planning materials.  It appears the Apollo astronauts did the same thing.

On January 13th an auction house is planning to start selling off artifacts from a variety of space missions, including a Playboy centerfold:

Vintage color calendar photo of Playboy Playmate Miss August 1967, DeDe Lind, which was stowed away in the Apollo 12 command module Yankee Clipper during its November 1969 voyage to the moon…

The topless image is an original taken from one of the 1969 calendars published by Playboy and features the month Read more

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